By Justin Fenton
Enquirer staff writer

Members of the Shawnee tribe toured three possible casino sites in Middletown Tuesday, as the Oklahoma-based tribe continues to scour Southwest Ohio for prospective casino and resort locations.

Chief Charles Enyart and members of the tribal council surveyed locations including Middletown's East End, where they are hoping to build a $300 million to $500 million casino, said Terry Casey, a Columbus consultant with National Capital 1, which represents the tribe.

"The tribe does not want to come to Ohio and just open a gaming hall," Casey said. "They want to do a true resort destination, so that you've got lodging, food, retailing, entertainment, recreation, spa - various types of things like that."

The tribe wants to open five to seven casinos and resorts on land it is attempting to reclaim.

Officials say it is ready to file a federal claim on 1 million acres in Ohio, including Indian Hill, Montgomery, Loveland and downtown Cincinnati, which were purchased in 1794 in a transaction that the tribe argues was not legal.

There are still numerous hurdles to clear before the casinos become a reality, including submitting economic proposals to Gov. Bob Taft, an opponent of casino gambling.

But the Middletown site appears to have the support of officials there.

Larry Wood, the director of the Middletown Economic Development Corp., said the economic returns and the creation of more than 1,000 jobs would be a boon to the city.

"If they do get gambling approved, Middletown would like to be part of the picture. We want to come to the party," he said.

The tribe has 2,200 to 2,300 members, including 666 in Oklahoma and larger numbers in California and Hawaii.

Monday, tribe representatives also visited Botkins, 50 miles north of Dayton, where the tribe is hoping to build a $200 million casino on 133 acres.

While Casey would not confirm the other locations the tribe is considering, he noted that Enyart was intrigued by local radio talk-show host Bill Cunningham's suggestion of Norwood, at the site of a closed auto plant, and would look into that further.

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E-mail jfenton@enquirer.com